2 Samuel 1 - GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

The Report of Saul’s Death

1 After Saul died and David returned from defeating the Amalekites,[a] David stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man came from Saul’s camp. His clothes were torn, and he had dirt on his head. When he came to David, he immediately bowed down with his face touching the ground.

3 “Where did you come from?” David asked him.

“I escaped from the camp of Israel,” he answered.

4 “What happened?” David asked him. “Please tell me.”

The man answered, “The army fled from the battle, and many of the soldiers died. Saul and his son Jonathan are dead too.”

5 “How do you know Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” David asked the young man who had brought him the news.

6 The young man answered, “I happened to be on Mount Gilboa. Saul was there leaning on his spear, and the chariots and horsemen were catching up with him. 7 When he looked back and saw me, he called to me, and I said, ‘Yes?’ ”

8 “He asked me, ‘Who are you?’

“I said to him, ‘I’m an Amalekite.’

9 “He said to me, ‘Please stand over me and kill me. I’m alive, but I’m suffering.’

10 “So I stood over him and killed him, since I knew he couldn’t survive after he had been wounded. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm and brought them here to you, sir.”

11 Then David grabbed his own clothes and tore them in grief. All the men with him did the same. 12 They mourned, cried, and fasted until evening because Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s army, and the nation of Israel had been defeated in battle.

13 David asked the young man who had brought him the news, “Where are you from?”

And the young man answered, “I’m an Amalekite, the son of a foreign resident.”

14 David asked, “Why weren’t you afraid to take it upon yourself to destroy the Lord’s anointed king?” 15 Then David called one of ⌞his⌟ young men and told him, “Come here and attack him.” David’s young man executed him 16 while David said, “You are responsible for spilling your own blood. You testified against yourself when you said, ‘I killed the Lord’s anointed king.’ ”

David’s Lament

17 David wrote this song of mourning for Saul and his son Jonathan. 18 He said,

“Teach this kesheth[b] to the people of Judah.”
(It is recorded in the Book of Jashar.)

19 “Your glory, Israel, lies dead on your hills.
See how the mighty have fallen!
20 Don’t tell the news in Gath.
Don’t announce the victory in the streets of Ashkelon,
or the daughters of the Philistines will be glad,
and the daughters of godless men will celebrate.
21 You mountains in Gilboa,
may there be no dew or rain on you
or on your slopes,
because warriors’ shields were tarnished there.
Saul’s shield was never rubbed with olive oil.
22 From the blood of those killed and the fat of the warriors,
Jonathan’s bow did not turn away,
nor did Saul’s sword return unused.
23 Saul and Jonathan were loved and well-liked while they were living.
They were not separated even when they died.
They were swifter than eagles and stronger than lions.
24 Daughters of Israel, cry over Saul,
who dressed you in decorated, red clothes,
who put gold jewelry on your clothes.
25 See how the mighty have fallen in battle!
On your hills Jonathan was killed!
26 I am heartbroken over you, my brother Jonathan.
You were my great delight.
Your love was more wonderful to me than the love of women.
27 See how the mighty have fallen!
See how the weapons of war have been destroyed!”

Footnotes

  1. 1:1 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Syriac; other Hebrew manuscripts, Greek “Amalek.”
  2. 1:18 Unknown musical term.

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2 Samuel 1 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it cometh to pass, after the death of Saul, that David hath returned from smiting the Amalekite, and David dwelleth in Ziklag two days, 2 and it cometh to pass, on the third day, that lo, a man hath come in out of the camp from Saul, and his garments [are] rent, and earth on his head; and it c...
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2 Samuel 1 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

1 And it was done, after that Saul was dead, that David turned again from the slaying of Amalek, and he dwelled two days in Ziklag. (And it was done, after Saul died, that David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and he stayed in Ziklag for two days.) 2 And in the third day a man appeare...
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2 Samuel 1 - World English Bible (WEB)

1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag; 2 on the third day, behold,[a] a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth, and showe...
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1 After Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle with the Philistines, David returned from defeating the Amalekites, and for two days he rested in Ziklag. 2 On the third day, a man came from Saul’s camp in mourning, his clothes torn, dirt on his head. When he reached David, he fell to the ground fac...
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2 Samuel 1 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

David Mourns Saul and Jonathan1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul—when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites—that David stayed two days in Ziklag. 2 On the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dust on his head. Now when he approached ...
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2 Samuel 1 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amal′ekites, David remained two days in Ziklag; 2 and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fe...
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2 Samuel 1 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from the slaughter of the Amal′ekites, David remained two days in Ziklag; 2 and on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes rent and earth upon his head. And when he came to David, he fe...
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2 Samuel 1 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2 On the third day, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did ob...
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2 Samuel 1 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

David Mourns for Saul and Jonathan1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.(A)2 On the third day, a man came from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground and did ob...
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2 Samuel 1 - New Living Translation (NLT)

David Learns of Saul’s Death1 After the death of Saul, David returned from his victory over the Amalekites and spent two days in Ziklag. 2 On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s army camp. He had torn his clothes and put dirt on his head to show that he was in mourning. He fell to the ground bef...
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2 Samuel 1 - New Life Version (NLV)

David Hears of Saul’s Death1 Now after the death of Saul, David returned from killing the Amalekites and stayed two days in Ziklag. 2 On the third day, a man came from the tents of Saul. His clothes were torn and he had dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell with his face to the ground. ...
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2 Samuel 1 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Report of Saul’s Death1 Now it came to pass after the (A)death of Saul, when David had returned from (B)the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had stayed two days in Ziklag, 2 on the third day, behold, it happened that (C)a man came from Saul’s camp (D)with his clothes [a]torn and dust on h...
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2 Samuel 1 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

David hears of Saul’s death1 After the death of Saul, David returned from striking down the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him honour. 3 ‘Wher...
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2 Samuel 1 - New International Version (NIV)

David Hears of Saul’s Death(A)1 After the death(B) of Saul, David returned from striking down(C) the Amalekites(D) and stayed in Ziklag two days. 2 On the third day a man(E) arrived from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dust on his head.(F) When he came to David, he fell(G) to the ground to pay...
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2 Samuel 1 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

David Hears That Saul Has Died1 After Saul died, David returned to Ziklag. He had won the battle over the Amalekites. He stayed in Ziklag for two days. 2 On the third day a man arrived from Saul’s camp. His clothes were torn. He had dust on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to ...
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2 Samuel 1 - New English Translation (NET)

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